1 CDBG Income Survey Requirements For Grant Administrators

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3 Purpose of Surveys Determine if a CDBG National Objective can be met by proposed project activity Obtain demographic information from survey area residents

4 Meeting a CDBG National Objective (Area Benefit) At least 51% of the residents benefiting from the CDBG program live in households earning 80% or less than the area's Median Family Income as Determined by HUD The Median Family Income Thresholds change every year

5 State Program Service Area HUD will generally accept the state and local determination of the service area unless the nature of the activity or its location raises serious doubt about the area claimed by the state and its grant recipients.

6 State Program Service Area Keys to meet LMI area national objective. Service area decided based on the activity beneficiaries Critical that the service area be the entire area served by the activity (see 24 CFR (b)(1)(i)). Need not be coterminous with census tracts or other officially recognized boundaries At least 51% residents service area LMI persons.

7 State Program Service Area Service area boundaries…why need for survey –may or may not coincide with census or other geographic boundaries, –one census tract covers an entire city or there may be only two or three census tracts in an entire county. –smaller communities and rural areas where block groups or census tracts with low population densities cover large areas.

8 State Program Service Area Service area boundaries…examples –Street paving project serves residents in part of community –Fire station project serves community and rural unincorporated area of 2 or more counties –Rural water district serves community and portion of the rural area

9 State Program Service Area True or False? The service area… Is always the legal boundaries of the community or county applicant? Needs to meet Census tract boundaries? Is based on the area the benefiting residents live in the community? At least ?? % residents must be LMI persons.

10 State Program Service Area True or False? The service area… Is always the legal boundaries of the community or county applicant? False Needs to meet Census tract boundaries? Is based on the area the benefiting residents live in the community? At least ?? % residents must be LMI persons.

11 State Program Service Area True or False? The service area… Is always the legal boundaries of the community or county applicant? False Needs to meet Census tract boundaries? False Is based on the area the benefiting residents live in the community? At least ?? % residents must be LMI persons.

12 State Program Service Area True or False? The service area… Is always the legal boundaries of the community or county applicant? False Needs to meet Census tract boundaries? False Is based on the area the benefiting residents live in the community? True At least ?? % residents must be LMI persons.

13 State Program Service Area True or False? The service area… Is always the legal boundaries of the community or county applicant? False Needs to meet Census tract boundaries? False Is based on the area the benefiting residents live in the community? True At least 51% residents of the service area must be LMI persons.

14 State Program Service Area Service area boundaries…examples –Street paving project serves residents in part of community –Fire station project serves community and rural unincorporated area of 2 or more counties –Rural water district serves community and portion of the rural area

Survey Methodology Two Methods of Surveys –Census (100% survey of service area) –Sampling (random sample of survey area Which Method to Use? –Ask State for guidance

16 Census Method Census method for survey of population for small communities and rural areas okay if… –Local unit of government illustrates how calculated –LMI persons calculated from entire population local unit of government –Service area population not calculated based on the respondents to the survey

17 Census Method Census method for survey of population for small communities and rural areas… Census survey conducted entire population. 640 residents with return rate 80%, which = 512 residents respond to family income based on distribution to households, Thus, 51% respondents must be LMI? or 261 respondents of the community?

18 Census Method Census method for survey of population for small communities and rural areas… Thus, 51% respondents must be LMI? or 261 respondents of the community? Incorrect.

19 Census Method Census method for survey of population for small communities and rural areas… Thus, 51% respondents must be LMI? or 261 respondents of the community? Incorrect. 51% of the population surveyed (640) must be LMI residents, which means 326 respondents of the community census survey must be LMI. Correct.

20 Sampling Surveys Selecting the Sample –Need to define survey population (service area) –Determine how many households need to be interviewed –Make allowances for “unreachables” and non- respondents –Actual sample selection

21 Sample Size Use Table B to determine how many household need to be interviewed Do not try to interview everyone unless the small sample size dictates it! All households in survey area must have an equal chance of selection Use random numbers table or on-line randomizer like or

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23 Defining the Population Need an accurate method to identify all households in survey area City indexes and telephone books and 911 maps are helpful Not everyone has a telephone Tax rolls can mislead

24 “Unreachables” and Non-Respondents Make follow-up contacts Goal of 80% is good target Go back to random sampling to complete survey Must not exceed % on Table B

25 Survey Steps Select the Survey Type Developing a Questionnaire Conducting the Survey Determine the Results Documenting Your Results

26 Step 1: Select the Survey Type Mail Door to Door (In Person) Telephone

27 Mail Surveys Basic method for collecting data Survey form should be mailed with self- addressed stamped envelope Usually has lowest response rate

28 Door to Door Surveys Interviewer visits households directly Survey form completed on-site Interviewers need maximum training Follow-up visits usually needed Highest response rate

29 Telephone Surveys Questions asked via telephone Need to assure proper responder answers questions Need to develop method to contact those without phone or with unlisted number Moderate to high response rate

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31 Step 2: Developing a Questionnaire Determine content, wording, format and placement of questions For CDBG, must contain income and demographic information All respondents must be asked the same questions Exact responses must be recorded as they are presented

32 Step 3: Conducting the Survey Give advance notice of survey Do not bias the results Interviewer must follow process Survey etiquette must be followed Turn surveys over to tabulator Each survey needs to be reviewed and edited for completeness and accuracy

33 Conducting the Survey Remember-- People are leery of surveys, especially regarding income information! Keep documentation regarding income simple Good PR is key Interviewers must be tactful

34 Confidentiality You should do your best to maintain confidentiality. Emphasize to respondents that their answers will be kept confidential. The respondent’s name, address, and telephone number should appear only on the cover sheet of the questionnaire.

35 Confidentiality After the survey is completed, the cover sheet may be numbered and separated from the actual interview sheet. If the cover sheets and the questionnaires are both numbered, they can be matched if necessary.

36 Step 4: Determining the Results For Sampling Surveys?? Add numbers for all data Tabulate the responses and calculate estimated LMI % Compare family sizes and percentages of LMI and Non-LMI responder families Compare to existing Census data Analyze non-respondents

37 Step 4: Determining the Results For LMI Area Benefit Activities not using HUD Census data PART I. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR SURVEY 1. Total number of families (including single person families)…….1.________ in the activity service area. 2. Total number of families in the service area that were…………..2.________ contacted (include not reachable, refused to answer, incomplete interview/questionnaire) 3. Total number of completed interviews……………………………….…….3.________ 4. Percent of families responding (3/2)………………………………….…….4. ________% 5. Total number of persons in the families interviewed……….………5.________ 6. Total number of persons in the families interviewed ……….…….6.________ who are LMI persons. 7. Divide Line 6 by Line 5 and multiply by 100……………………….……7.________% 8. Total number of persons in the service area …………………….…….8.________ (if community wide, use 2000 Census). 9. Total number of LMI persons benefiting (7 x 8)……………………….9.________

38 Step 4: Determining the Results For LMI Area Benefit Activities not using HUD Census data PART I. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR SURVEY 1. Total number of families (including single person families)…….1._450____ in the activity service area. 2. Total number of families in the service area that were…………..2._257____ contacted (include not reachable, refused to answer, incomplete interview/questionnaire) 3. Total number of completed interviews……………………………….…….3._228____ 4. Percent of families responding (3/2)………………………………….…….4. _88.7___% 5. Total number of persons in the families interviewed……….………5.________ 6. Total number of persons in the families interviewed ……….…….6.________ who are LMI persons. 7. Divide Line 6 by Line 5 and multiply by 100……………………….……7._______% 8. Total number of persons in the service area …………………….…….8._______ (if community wide, use 2000 Census). 9. Total number of LMI persons benefiting (7 x 8)……………………….9._______

39 Step 4: Determining the Results For LMI Area Benefit Activities not using HUD Census data PART I. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR SURVEY 1. Total number of families (including single person families)…….1._450____ in the activity service area. 2. Total number of families in the service area that were…………..2._257____ contacted (include not reachable, refused to answer, incomplete interview/questionnaire) 3. Total number of completed interviews……………………………….…….3._228____ 4. Percent of families responding (3/2)………………………………….…….4. _88.7___% 5. Total number of persons in the families interviewed……….………5._796__ 6. Total number of persons in the families interviewed ……….…….6._412__ who are LMI persons. 7. Divide Line 6 by Line 5 and multiply by 100……………………….……7._51.76__% 8. Total number of persons in the service area …………………….…….8._1,395__ (if community wide, use 2000 Census). 9. Total number of LMI persons benefiting (7 x 8)……………………….9.__722__

40 Step 4: Determining the Results For LMI Area Benefit Activities not using HUD Census data PART I. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR SURVEY 1. Total number of families (including single person families)…….1._450____ in the activity service area. 2. Total number of families in the service area that were…………..2._257____ contacted (include not reachable, refused to answer, incomplete interview/questionnaire) 3. Total number of completed interviews……………………………….…….3._228____ 4. Percent of families responding (3/2)………………………………….…….4. _88.7___% 5. Total number of persons in the families interviewed……….………5._796__ 6. Total number of persons in the families interviewed ……….…….6._412__ who are LMI persons. 7. Divide Line 6 by Line 5 and multiply by 100……………………….……7._51.76__% 8. Total number of persons in the service area …………………….…….8._1,395__ (if community wide, use 2000 Census). 9. Total number of LMI persons benefiting (7 x 8)……………………….9.__722__

41 Step 4: Determining the Results For LMI Area Benefit Activities not using HUD Census data PART I. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR SURVEY 1. Total number of families (including single person families)…….1._450____ in the activity service area. 2. Total number of families in the service area that were…………..2._257____ contacted (include not reachable, refused to answer, incomplete interview/questionnaire) 3. Total number of completed interviews……………………………….…….3._228____ 4. Percent of families responding (3/2)………………………………….…….4. _88.7___% 5. Total number of persons in the families interviewed……….………5._796__ 6. Total number of persons in the families interviewed ……….…….6._412__ who are LMI persons. 7. Divide Line 6 by Line 5 and multiply by 100……………………….……7._51.76__% 8. Total number of persons in the service area …………………….…….8._1,395__ (if community wide, use 2000 Census). 9. Total number of LMI persons benefiting (7 x 8)……………………….9.__722__

42 Step 5: Documenting Your Results Keep all completed surveys Maintain a list of households sampled Documentation of selection process Keep all records per your state requirements

43 Analysis of Sampling Surveys What to do if everything was done correctly, including random selection of the required number of families, and your estimate shows that less than 51 percent of the residents of the service area have low- and moderate- incomes? –LMI area benefit activities cannot be undertaken in that area.

44 Lifespan of a Survey How long is an income survey good for? What if there are significant changes? Surveys may be used more than once only for the same exact service area

45 Resources and References HUD Notice CPD STATE SPECIFIC REFERENCES